Abbas, Sarkozy set to hold talks in Egypt: Report

Egypt has invited French President and Palestinian President for talks on how to end the three-week Israeli offensive in Gaza, state-run media reported.

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17 Ocak 2009 Cumartesi 17:37

Egypt has invited French President Nicholas Sarzoky and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for talks on how to end the three-week Israeli offensive in Gaza, state-run media reported on Saturday.

The Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported that Abbas and Sarkozy are set to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Muabark on Sunday.

The Israeli security cabinet was due to meet later on Saturday to decide whether to halt its military campaign in the coastal strip without an agreement with Hamas militants.

Western diplomats said plans were underway for a meeting of world leaders in Egypt as early as Sunday. Those expected to attend also include the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the diplomats said.

A Western diplomat in Cairo told Reuters the talks would aim to coordinate the various efforts to reach a ceasefire but added that if Israel decided to halt its campaign "it will be a very different type of a meeting".

He did not give more details. Egyptian officials were not available for comment.